Comments on: Holden Sportwagon picks up two design awards

By: PK

PK — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:53:58 +0000

I am thinking about buying a new Calais Sportwagon but I think the tailgate will open too high for the height of my garage ceiling (it’s pretty low). Is there anyway of limiting how high the tailgate can open??

By: Wheelnu®™

Wheelnu®™ — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 00:06:02 +0000

According to what the Motor Vehicle Fleet Mananger at work told me – the VE Sportwagon is apparently out selling SUVs including the Kluger and the Territory.. maybe trends are changing…. or people are just being more practical

By: Roberts

Roberts — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 04:49:48 +0000

I have a 2005 VZ sedan thats done 225,000kms and have had no problems with it, however my sister in law has a new Omega Sportswagon company car and has had heaps of trouble with it after doing 30,000 kms. She had the preivious VZ executive wagon before and it was sold after hitting a huge 350,000kms with no problems (it was just 3 yrs old). She has also said that the space is horrbile as well as the blind spots compared to her VZ wagon and would prefer to drive a 350,000kms VZ executive before jumping happily into the new sportswagon. I have to purchase a wagon myself, in order to care for my grandmother, but I am definately going to look for a VZ executive wagon before even going into Holden to purchase a new sportswagon.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:11:39 +0000

And on the R8 version,
It sooo needed the sedan style tail lights to really set it off

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 08:10:38 +0000

Ok Steve fair enough.

No racism had here though.
Plenty of people crying out for it in an attempt to try and defame certain individuals.

By: Mumble Duck (used to be Duck)

Mumble Duck (used to be Duck) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 05:46:50 +0000

Yes Congratulations Holden. Well done.

By: SteveH

SteveH — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:04:37 +0000

Andrew, as I said, I believe Andrew Symonds was called a monkey because of the way he looked, ie dark skinned. I don’t see many white people being called a monkey in a derogatory way.

Also, agree with Nobody that the R8 version is a good looking car for a wagon.

By: Pious

Pious — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:02:44 +0000

BM – say it…..VOLVO!…my anti spam word is “VOLVO” Kismet, eh?

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:57:45 +0000

Steve,
Calling Andrew Symonds a monkey in no way refers to a race unless the Andrew symonds of the world declare themselves a race

The Andrew Symonds incident was nothing more than an offencive remark.

By: Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Bavarian Missile (.)(.) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:46:37 +0000

My fav out of all the wagons would be the same as Pious’s…The Sportwagon would be my second choice ,R8 is great bang for your buck I think!

By: nobody

nobody — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:40:01 +0000

A well deserved award for Holden. I’ve seen afew of these around my area but mostly in the R8 guise and am a fan of it’s meaty looks. Personally I do like it better than the europeans especially the strange looking BMW wagons.

I’ve never been inside a VE Sporstwagon myself so can’t say what I feel about how it goes and all. For the price, one can do alot worse.

By: SteveH

SteveH — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:33:32 +0000

BM, as I said before, the context that you used monkey in, ie three wise monkeys, is in no way racist. Using the Andrew Symonds example again, he was called a monkey because of the way he looked, not because he was sitting there eating a banana. Therefore, that use of the term monkey is racially motivated.

I had a look at the website you provided BM and all I can say is that it must have been a pretty slow year automotive wise if a fancy tailgate justifies giving the Sportswagon the award.

Soapbox I do apologise. I can tell that you are my elder and I hope you go back to your bowls club and share your experience there.

By: Bavarian Missile (.)(.)

Bavarian Missile (.)(.) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 03:22:08 +0000

Thats it AndrewM “Monkey doesnt = Racism”

Back on topic
Here is the full list of the winners from AIDA

http://www.designawards.com.au.....inners.pdf

I did contact them directly for an explanation for their choice on the Sportwagon but got this reply only SteveH………

“”Hi Lisa,

Thanks for your enquiry about the 2009 Australian International Design Awards. At the Presentation Night last Friday the judges gave the following comment on the Holden VE Sportwagon:

“The family vehicle stereotype is completely reconsidered with great packaging and finishes. Innovative tailgate and solid rear tray offer excellent access.”

The Sportwagon also received ‘Best Overall’ in the Wheels Automotive Design Awards at the same event. More information about this Award win will be available in the upcoming June issue of Wheels magazine.

Form more information about the Australian International Design Awards visit http://www.designawards.com.au or sign up to our mailing list at http://www.australiandesign.org

Regards,
MITCHELL WADE
Creative Director, Australian International Design Awards
Standards Australia
Level 10, 20 Bridge Street Sydney NSW 2000 GPO Box 476 Sydney NSW 2001
P +61 2 9237 6048 F +61 2 9237 6091 mwade@designawards.com.au “”

So I did try for you ,I guess you could push harder for a more detailed answer from each of the judges .Their detail are on the site :)

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:44:28 +0000

SteveH,
But it was proven that what ever term news paper headlines wanted to throw around, the term Monkey wasnt Racist.

Claims to the Symonds case being Racist are just as false as the ill informed on here claiming it is today.

No real proof to what was said has been shown. The stump microphones didnt pick up the conversation and the Umpimers didnt here the exchanged words either.
For all we know there could have been more said between the two which brought about the Racism tag being thrown around.

End of the day, Monkey doesnt = Racism

By: Soapbox Inc

Soapbox Inc — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:38:42 +0000

Come now, I don’t think people who comment on a website about cars ALL day and ALL night on a website are really qualified to have the debate over what does and doesn’t constitute racism. Leave that one to the grown ups, and just go back to oohing and aahing over your big fast cars….

By: Pious

Pious — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:35:45 +0000

Actually, the three wise monkeys ARE from Japan. The expression comes from a carving of the monkeys in the Toshogu Shrine at Nikko, about 1 1/2 hours out of Tokyo (one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen, in the snow). As a result, the expression “3 wise monkeys from Japan” is geographically correct.

By: SteveH

SteveH — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:25:52 +0000

Wasn’t the whole Andrew Symonds thing with Harbajhan Singh because Harbajhan called Symonds a monkey? In that context it was called racist. In the context of being called a wise monkey, I don’t see it as being racist.

(Excuse the spelling of Harbajhan, but you get the general idea)

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:14:48 +0000

QUOTE………..
“maybe we all should start calling you a monkey”

Well you and your friends have called myself and others a lot worse. Is this where we should be pulling out the racism card too.

By: Andrew M

Andrew M — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:12:09 +0000

As long as its a wise monkey…… ;)

Even if you were called a Monkey (without being wise) I still fail to see how the term Monkey is Racist

Maybe offencive if you have touchy feelings, but Racist???

By: Australia - Land of Racists

Australia - Land of Racists — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 02:06:21 +0000

Only idiots think its a compliment to be called a monkey.

In this case, you are Andrew M.

If you don’t think its a racism, maybe we all should start calling you a monkey as a compliment.